AAP deviating from principles, defrauding people, says rebel Binny

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI): Aam Aadmi Party legislator Vinod Kumar Binny on Thursday accused the party of backtracking on a range of promises, including in the water and power sector, and criticised the leadership for “deviating” from its core principles.

Binny, who represents Laxminagar constituency in the Delhi assembly, said though the party during the election campaign had promised to provide 700 litres of free water to each household, the government “very cleverly” announced that those exceeding the limit will have to pay for the full amount.

The MLA, a former Congressman, said forming the government by taking support of Congress was a “compromise of the party's principles”.

”We had announced publicly that we wouldn't give or take support of any political party. Then what prompted the party to change the decision. Discussions were held behind closed doors on the issue,” he said.

Binny had publicly displayed his unhappiness after he was left out of the Cabinet in December.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had dismissed Binny’s rebellion as pique at being denied a ministerial berth and later a Lok Sabha ticket.

But Binny said this was a “complete lie”.

Binny also said he would go on a hunger strike if the party fails to fulfil its promises by January 27.

”I am an honest soldier of this party. I will not leave the party,” he said.

On the electricity front, Binny said that the government ”defrauded” the people of Delhi as the party had promised to halve the bills after coming to power.

”The government said subsidy will be given to those whose monthly consumption does not exceed 400 units. This is totally unacceptable,” Binny told a press conference here.

Terming his criticism of the government and the party as a ”fight for the truth”, Binny said AAP was not formed to grab power or make anybody the chief minister.

”The party has misled the people of Delhi on a number of issues. There is a big mismatch between what the party promised and what the government is doing,” he said.

Binny also attacked the AAP leadership for failing to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill within 14 days of coming to power as promised.

”AAP came into power on December 28. Today, it has been 19 days,” he said.

The MLA also came down hard on the ministers of the Delhi government who have taken “big cars” bearing “fancy registration” numbers, saying it was against the party's principles.

He also trained his guns on Kejriwal saying he was forced to not move to a sprawling flat following criticism by the people.

”He would definitely have moved to the flat if there was no opposition to it by the people,” he said.